How to Use a Natural Shampoo Bar

Washing your hair with a natural shampoo bar instead of conventional shampoo and conditioner is quickly gaining popularity, and we can see why! Read on as we show you how to use a shampoo bar and its benefits.

What is a shampoo bar?

Simply, shampoo in a solid bar form! A shampoo bar is much like a bar of soap, but for your hair. You wet your hair, lather up and rinse, just as you would use a bar of soap to wash your body.

Shampoo bar benefits

Shampoo bars change the way we think about washing our hair! The natural shampoo bars that we sell at Biome:

• Provide a wonderful, refreshing clean, and leave your hair shiny and full of body;
• Reduce plastic shampoo and conditioner bottle waste;
• Contain no SLS, palm oil, petrochemicals, or synthetic ingredients;
• Are cruelty free;
• Long lasting;
• Great to travel with; and
• Very economical!

Our shampoo bars do not strip your hair of natural oils like other shampoos do. They allow your scalp to return to its natural moisture balance, leaving your hair feeling more soft, bouncy and full of body. Find Biome's full range of shampoo bars here > Tip: Not all shampoo bars are the same! Lush shampoo bars, for example, contain SLS, palm oil, and the other harmful ingredients we've mentioned above. So if reducing toxins and palm oil is your objective, be sure to double check the ingredients.

How do you use a shampoo bar?

Using a shampoo bar is really easy. Watch our video below to learn how to use a shampoo bar. How easy was that! Tip: We recommend giving your hair a few weeks to get used to a shampoo bar. It will feel different initially, and it will take time for your hair and scalp to adjust. Persist though, as it is definitely worth it!

What shampoo bar will suit my hair?

All hair types

• Biome shampoo and body bar
• Surprise and shine natural shampoo bar
• Dindi natural shampoo soap in a tin - both varieties
• Eco-Castile shampoo bar

Dry hair

• Beauty & The Bees beer shampoo bar
• Beauty & the Bees voodoo bamboo shampoo bar
• Beauty & the Bees hemp and honey shampoo bar

Oily hair

• Beauty & the Bees voodoo bamboo shampoo bar

Irritated scalp

• Beauty & The Bees Tasmanian wild leaves shampoo bar

Blonde or silver hair

• Beauty & The Bees lemon and chamomile shampoo bar

Red or brunette hair

• Beauty & The Bees rosemary and mint shampoo bar

Dreadlocks

• Urthly Organics hair and body shampoo bar

Head lice

• Cedar + Stone head lice shampoo bar

You can see our full range of shampoo bars here > Tip: We recommend cutting your shampoo bar in half or in thirds and use one piece at a time. This will greatly prolong the life of the bar.

What about conditioner?

A shampoo bar has conditioning properties, but many people find they still need something to condition their with after using one. A popular zero waste option is to use apple cider vinegar. Conditioning your hair with apple cider vinegar adds shine, brightens the natural colour, leaves hair soft and easy to comb, removes the last of the shampoo bar residue, and helps combat dandruff. And don't worry, it won't leave your hair smelling like vinegar! There are two options:

• Rinse: rinse your hair with one part apple cider vinegar diluted with 4 parts water (use warm water to avoid a chilly surprise!); or
• Spritz: spritz your washed hair with a diluted apple cider vinegar infusion. You can find the recipe for this here >

Other conditioning options include coconut oil or our DIY hair conditioning treatment cream. See the recipe for that one here > Tip: We recommend you don't use regular commercial conditioner after washing your hair with a shampoo bar, as it can leave your hair feeling heavy and dull.

Top tips from Biome Founder, Tracey

• Use the shampoo bar for two weeks before deciding whether it is working for you. It takes time for your scalp and hair to adjust.
• Don't use conditioner. When I first swapped over, I used conditioner as this was the routine I was used to. But actually that made my hair feel heavy and dull. So I stopped using conditioner and it was a revelation! I rinse my hair with a little Apple Cider Vinegar diluted in water about every two weeks.
• Cut the bar in half or thirds, and only use one piece at a time. This will greatly prolong the life of the bar.
• Be prepared for your hair as you knew it to change! After using the Beauty & the Bees bar shampoo I can't believe how much more fullness and body my hair has. I used to need to tie my hair up all the time because the limpness and static annoyed me. Now it tends to sit naturally in a more controlled but bouncy fashion. It's hard to explain!